President Donald Trump said he is federalizing the District of Columbia’s police and activating 800 members of the National Guard to patrol the city. He also threatened to put an even larger military presence in place to combat what the administration is saying is an emergency over crime.
“We will bring in the military if needed,” Trump said Monday, seemingly referencing active-duty troops. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated the possibility, noting that “there are other units we are prepared to bring in.”
The White House said it wants to give law enforcement a long leash: The police will be “allowed to do whatever the hell they want” and “knock the hell” out of people they engage with, Trump said. His use of the National Guard is already pushing precedent.